Bangkok Post: Is PPP Self-Destructing or Being Destroyed?

RACE TO PARLIAMENT


NATTAYA CHETCHOTIROS


Bangkok Post


The People Power party (PPP) cannot be dissolved before the Dec 23 election even if it is found to have committed major electoral offences, according to the Election Commission (EC), which meets tomorrow to rule on complaints brought against the party.

There are more complaints about the PPP than any other party, but even if the EC recommends it be dissolved the matter is unlikely to be resolved before the general election.

A key issue is the distribution of a videoclip in which deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra urges northeasterners to vote for the PPP.

If the EC finds the video violates political party and election laws, it would probably recommend the PPP be dissolved and forward the decision to the Constitution Court for approval, election commissioner Sumet Uppanisakorn said.

However, there was no possibility the PPP could be disbanded before the election, he said.

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Mr Suriyasai said the PPP had breached Article 97 of the law governing political parties, which prohibits executives from any disbanded party from getting involved with any other party during the suspension period.


I know this may surprise some who think I am a Thaksin lover, but I am totally unsympathetic to the PPP.

The leaders knew that they were going to be held to a standard where every seemingly dodgy move the party made would be scrutinized by the EC in order to disqualify it.

Plus, regardless of how much people love Thaksin, the PPP shouldn't be campaigning as if he was making a come back. If that is their entire marketing strategy, then it deserves to lose. This is my personal opinion, not a legal one.

As a matter of principle, I see no problem with the banned TRT politicians endorsing the PPP or other parties, and I think it is stupid that Thaksin and others can't make these dopey CDs, but my opinion doesn't matter. The EC is calling the shots.

Now, it looks like the PPP will win the election, then be disqualified after the election by the EC and in the courtroom, which brings us back to 2001. However, this time the Constitutional Court won't rule in Thaksin's and the PPP's favor. That is certainly a sure bet.

Bangkok Pundit makes a couple technical points concerning distribution.

1. I do think the EC will have to demonstrate the PPP's linkage to the distribution of the CD. But it seems Samak already admitted the linkage.

2. Was the video produced before the royal decree for the election? I think this point is irrelevant, especially if the EC can prove that PPP distributed the CDs after the royal decree. I don't think before or after will make a difference. In other words, I think the EC will find any excuse to disqualify, and will use some twisted reasoning of the law to justify the decision.

As with the situation with Hi-Thaksin.net, I don't get this need to ban and go the extreme of dissolving the party because of the actions of a few people.

It seems, however, the powers-at-be have certainly made it clear that they intend to end the Thaksin era for good.

PPP should be careful about pushing the EC around, because the Sodsri chick doesn't seem to have the temperament for any of its shenanigans.

The Nation: The Plot Against PPP and Surayud's Confirmation (Bangkok Post)

PPP exposes the junta's propaganda warfare

The Nation

The two documents, claimed by the People Power Party as aiming at its destruction, are actually the junta's action plan to disseminate information during the leadup to the December 23 general election.

The party released the documents on Wednesday via the Website, HiThaksin.net.

The documents comprise two parts - the classified report prepared by the Army Operations Department in its capacity as an ad hoc unit in the Council for National Security and the attached work schedule for information dissemination.

The action plan has been put into action since September 14 when Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratglin was the junta chief. He resigned his office on September 30 to join the interim government.

The plan for information dissemination has two major goals - foster national unity and discredit the opposition forces against the junta and the interim government.

On the discredit of the opposition forces, the junta plans to achieve five targets:

1. Prevent the middle class from leaning toward the opposition.

2. Expose the flaws of populist policies to grassroots people.

3. Deter and discourage grassroots people from rallying in Bangkok.

4. Circumvent opposition activities.

5. Deter civil servants from supporting the opposition.

For information dissemination between September and the general election, the junta will strive for the following five objectives:

1. Inform the middle class about the facts relating to various political parties and their activities.

2. Point out the similarities between policies of disbanded Thai Rak Thai Party and those of People Power Party.

3. Encourage grassroots people to see the harms if ousted politicians were to return to power.

4. Warn about the repeat of corruption and illegitimacy should the People Power Party were to grab power.

5. Build up the public sentiment to oppose the return of the ousted leaders via the People Power Party.

In discrediting the People Power Party, the junta has assigned all military units under its jurisdiction and military controlled media outlets, including Channel 5.

Update: Surayud confirms Samak documents


Bangkok Post


Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said Wednesday classified documents uncovered by People Power party (PPP) leader Samak Sundaravej outlining a military plot to prevent his party from winning the December general election are authentic.

Gen Surayud said the documents were details of a report detailing the one-year achievements of the Council for National Security (CNS).

The prime minister added that the documents contain no information that proves the CNS planned to use violence to destroy the PPP or the old power clique.

He also said that it is the job of the CNS to investigate the matter and explain the truth to the public.

Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Boonyaratkalin also said he would rather leave it to the army to explain about documents - even though he was army chief and head of the CNS from its inception until last Sept 28.

Mr Samak said on Tuesday he had obtained two classified documents "of a state agency" containing plans to prevent him and his party from winning the Dec 23 election and rising to power. He said the documents were reports prepared by a high ranking military officer to a state agency. He did not name the agency but implied it was the Council for National Security (CNS),

Gen Sonthi said he had not seen the original documents. He said he will ask the army to handle the documents and leave it to explain to the public.

Asked whether he will order an investigation into this matter, the deputy prime minister said the army issues a lot of orders as a matter of course, in its work concerning national security.

Army chief-of-staff Gen Montri Chompoochan denied knowing anything about the documents, saying soldiers do not interfere in politics.

Somchai Juengprasert, an election commissioner for investigation, said he will ask for copies of the documents from Mr Samak for examination.


There seems to be an obvious discrepancy concerning what the documents reveal and Surayud and Sonthi's defense of them.

These generals want to wash their hands of this scandal, yet one is Interior Minister and the other Deputy PM for National security. Regardless if these documents were produced during the last days of Sonthi's tenure as junta chief, he is responsible for its actions. And Surayud is culpable considering he has taken responsibility for making sure the next election is free and fair as the Interior Minister. His, "well, we didn't plan on using violence to squash PPP" excuse just doesn't cut it.

And General Montri comes off as a fool and liar with his denial.


Here is the document via Hi-Thaksin.net

Here is Bangkok Pundit on the story.

Prachatai on the story. By the way, I think something is wrong with the Thai version of Prachatai, because I am unable to load it. I don't know if it is a technical problem or it has been cut off. I got this link off the Google cache.

The Nation: PPP 'has proof' of foul play

Samak claims to have CNS letters on crippling party

The Nation

Samak Sundaravej yesterday produced two allegedly confidential documents linked to government leaders that he claimed were guidelines to scupper his People Power Party (PPP) ahead of the general election.

"I wonder why senior government officials dare to do such a shameful thing," Samak said at his Bangkok residence.

He said the documents were leaked by a state agency. The party had examined them and found them genuine, he said. The first document was dated Sept 14, the other dated Sept 26. But he refused to allow reporters to touch or closely examine the documents.

Deputy Prime Minister Sonthi Booyaratglin dismissed Samak's allegation. He said he had no idea about the leaked documents, which some said came from the Council for National Security (CNS). He said was no longer responsible since resigning as CNS chief.

CNS spokesman Colonel Sansern Kaewkamnerd dismissed the claim as "a political ploy" to discredit the military.

"We are not going to dance to this tune. If we do, there won't be an end to this. The best way is not to give the allegation much importance." He said an internal investigation would be conducted but its findings would not be made public.

Continued


I don't trust Samak, so I am skeptical.

If these documents are authentic and he is certain of their veracity, why doesn't he allow the media to examine them?

Why doesn't he throw them up on the internet so people can judge for themselves?

On the other hand, General Sonthi has made it clear that he will do whatever it takes to thwart the PPP in the next election.

What is disturbing to me is that last quote by Col Sansern.

Why dismiss the accusations as a "political ploy", then announce that you will have an investigation? That makes no sense at all.

It comes off as a non-denial denial. If you have seen or read "All the President's Men" then you know what that means.

In other words, Col Sansern didn't refute the authenticity of Samak's documents nor did he call Samak a liar.